Container cap and valve therefor



June 7, 1949. J. G. WARD CONTAINER CAP AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 24, 1948 Joseph 6. Ward INVENTOR.

BY wand and Ann-My:

Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATS AT, OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in handy table-type containers and dispensers of shaker form used in the home, restaurants and elsewhere for discharging salt, sugar, and the like; and has reference in particular to a structurally and functionally novel cap which is equipped with a readily openable and closable regulating and shut-off valve.

An object of the invention is to provide a practical and satisfactory valve which comprises a stainless steel coiledspring, the coils of which are tightly wound and normally closed but are adapted to be spread apart, by a thumb button actuated plunger, in a manner to provide intervening spaces for passage of the-salt; the above in conjunction with a screw cap which is especially fashioned to accommodate and properly house said spring and controlling plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and a satisfactory valve equipped container cap through the medium of which users will find their needs full-y met and readily and conveniently available.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cap having a simple and eflicient regulating and cutoff valve therein which is pushbutton controlled and is automatically closed when finger pressure on the button is released.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a container provided with a valved cap constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 4 is a central vertical sectional view on the line i--& of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals and. accompanying lead lines it will be noted that the container, which may be of any appropriate material and shape, is denoted by the numeral 6, the same being provided in its upper end with an externally screw threaded neck I to accommodate the screw threaded attaching flange 8 of the valved dispensing cap 9. The cap is centrally bored and the inner end of the bore is flared'as at while the principal portion of same is substantially cylindrical 'incr0ss'seoti0na1 form, as at l l. The

outer end of the bore is also flared or beveled as at 12 to facilitate shaking the salt or other.

Communicating 1 contents from the container. with the'bore i'i on-one side isarelatively shall ow socket i-3 having a coacting'recess M. In alignment with'the socket lt 'is a secondand complemental-socket I5 and these two sockets serveto accommodate the valve means It. As previously mentioned the preferred embodiment of the valve is a close wound stainless steel coiled spring,v

end portions projecting into the respective sockets ltand i. The end-most coils, at the-left in:

Figure 3 are gradually reduced in diameter asat l8-and l9 and 'the'coil i9 is seated in a groovev provided therefor in a head 20 on the plung-er rod 2 l. The rod extends axially through the center of the spring and into the socket l5 where it is provided with a finger operated push button 22. It will be noted that the push button has a cylindrical body portion which fits snugly, but slidably in the socket l5 and that the spring is so wound as to normally maintain the button in a projected position in readiness for finger pressure control. Although the spring may be fastened in place in other ways, I have found it expedient and practical to simply use dowels 23 and 24 which are fitted into openings provided therefor in the cap, these being situated in the socket walls [5 and the inner ends being pointed and projecting between adjacent coils of the spring, whereby to maintain said spring against endwise displacement, in an obvious manner. Incidentally, the aforementioned depression I4 serves to accommodate the movement of the head 20 when the latter is actuated in conjunction with the button, plunger and spring means.

Normally the inherent tension of the coils is such that they are firmly pressed and nested together. It follows, therefore, that, as shown in Figure 3, the spring bridges the bore or passage l l and has its end portions fitted snugly into the respective sockets l3 and [5, thus providing an effective cutoff or closing valve for said passage. When, however, the button 22 is depressed, in an obvious manner, the spring is lengthened and the coils are spread apart to provide intervening spaces which are sufiicient to allow salt to be sifted from the container, through the passage for dispensing, in an obvious manner.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials or rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A shaker for salt, sugar and the like comprising a container having a cap provided with an axially disposed discharge passage and aligned sockets at right angles to and on diametrically opposite sides of said passage, a tightly wound projectable and retractable coiled spring spanning and normally closing said discharge passage, the endmost coils of said spring being mounted for use and controllable operation in said sockets, one socket being closed at one end and the other socket being open at the opposite end, a push button slidably mounted in and substantially closing said last named socket, a plunger rod connected to said push button and extending axially and centrally through said coiled spring, said plunger rod terminating in a grooved head, adjacent coils of said spring being reduced in diameter and one coil being connected with said grooved head.

2. A shaker for salt, sugar and the like comprising a container having a cap provided with an axially disposed discharge passage and aligned sockets at right angles to and on diametrically opposite sides of said passage, a tightly wound projectable and retractable coiled spring spanning and normally closing said discharge passage, the endmost coils of said spring being mounted for use and controllable operation in said sockets, one socket being closed at one end and the other socket being open at the opposite end, a push button slidably mounted in and substantially closing said last named socket, a plunger rod connected to said push button and extending axially and centrally through said coiled spring, said plunger rod terminating in a grooved head, adjacent coils of said spring being reduced in diameter and one coil being connected with said grooved head, and means carried by said cap and coacting with spring to maintain the latter operatively in place and against displacement.

3. A shaker for salt, sugar, and the like comprising a container having a cap provided with an axially disposed discharge passage and sockets, aligned with each other and at right angles to and on diametrically opposite sides of said passage, a tightly wound helical spring spanning and normally closing said discharge passage, said spring being at right angles to said passage and the endmost coils of said spring being mounted for controllable operation in said sockets, and manually actuatable operating means for said a spring, said means being accessibly located on said cap at a convenient place for ready use, and embodying a plunger connected at one end to said spring and having a thumb button slidable in one of said sockets for pressing said plunger and opening and closing said spring.

JOSEPH G. WARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 244,740 Brown July 26, 1881 684,757 Hardy Oct. 15, 1901 1,628,106 Booty May 10, 1927 1,744,358 Brown et a1 Jan. 21, 1930 2,007,845 Boswell July 9, 1935 

